Dog vomiting is one of the most common occurrences encountered by veterinarians daily, and causes and treatment need to be understood for relief of the pet and guardian. Many healthy dogs and cats vomit occasionally without identifying a cause. If the pet appears normal and alert and has no previous health problems, episodes of acute vomiting may be managed at home, although veterinary consultation prior to home treatment is advised.
Your dog's vomiting that occurs occasionally where you see the abdominal muscles contracting, helps differentiate vomiting from regurgitation, which occurs effortlessly, without muscle contractions. Regurgitation occurs because a dilated esophagus does not effectively move food to the stomach and the animal will regurgitate food usually shortly after eating before it reaches the stomach. Regurgitated food comes up and looks as it did when it was eaten. In an otherwise healthy dog, this is generally not a cause for concern.
Nature has equipped the canine with a vomiting reflex action that enables the stomach to rid itself of irritating contents such as spoiled food. A dog's vomiting can be accompanied by diarrhea. Pepto-Bismol can be safely administered, but it's advisable to consult your veterinarian for the recommended dose.
Causes of dog vomiting
Causes of dog vomiting include pancreatitis, often caused by eating garbage or fatty table scraps, parasites, food allergies, stress, excitement, anxiety, motion sickness and poisons. Dog vomiting can be caused by household drugs such as aspirin and acetaminophen that can cause severe stomach ulcers in dogs depending upon the dose and duration of treatment. Plant and product poisoning (e.g. rat poison, antifreeze, pestisides) can induce vomiting and can kill or cause serious illness.
If you suspect ingestion of pesticides containing arsenic, carbamates, metaldehyde, or organophosphates; drugs containing aspirin, acetaminophen, vitamin D3 or warfarin; antifreeze; or products containing lead, phenol, or strychnine, contact your veterinarian or the National Poison Control Center at (900) 680-0000, (800) 548-2423, or (888) 426-4435 for instructions.
In some cases of poisoning, vomiting should be induced to get the toxin out of the system as quickly as possible.
Induce vomiting in strychnine cases only if there are no signs of difficulty in breathing. Use hydrogen peroxide (three percent solution) or syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting. Most products today carry treatment information if the contents are ingested or inhaled. If you suspect an ingested product poisoning and directions say "do not induce vomiting," pay attention.
Other serious causes of dog vomiting could involve viral infections such as distemper, diseases of the inner ear, Addison's disease, parvovirus, corona virus, or diseases such as diabetes, cancer, stomach ulcers, and diseases of the liver, pancreas, or kidney.
If the vomit contains blood or red blood that looks like coffee grounds meaning the blood is digested, call your veterinarian. Blood is most often seen with stomach ulcers, stomach cancer or uremia (kidney failure)
Vomiting is a symptom, not a disease in of itself.
Vomiting after meals can be caused by eating too much too fast. Vomiting producing white foamy or yellow bile a few minutes after waking in the morning, where the canine shows no other signs of distress, and appetite is not affected, is not an indication of disease.
Treatment for vomiting depends upon the cause.
Nonspecific treatment for vomiting includes fasting, and fluids to correct or prevent dehydration. Allow no food or water until your dog has gone at least six hours without vomiting. Then introduce small amounts of water at short intervals of approximately 10-15 minutes. If vomiting begins again, wait another 6 hours before introducing additional water or clear liquids such as chicken broth or Jell-O. Water should never be withheld from an animal with known or suspected kidney disease without replacing fluids intravenously.
After 12 hours you may try offering bland, easy-to-digest home prepared food in small amounts consisting of cooked white rice, boiled hamburger, chicken or turkey in a 50/50 mixture, and be sure there is no skin or grease. Also suggested: boiled sweet potato, 2-4 tablespoons of cottage cheese with the liquid removed by squeezing between layers of paper towel, scrambled egg (no butter or oil), and boiled egg. Divide normal portions into four or five smaller feedings. Gradually increase food amounts until your dog's hunger is satisfied.
If vomiting occurs, be aware that the stomach often needs complete rest for 24 hours or more, so gradually try again. However, continued vomiting over a 24 hour period, accompanied by depressed demeanor or unresponsiveness, is a serious concern, call the vet.
Unproductive vomiting is a potential emergency requiring an immediate trip to the emergency clinic. The dog could have torsion, a condition in which the stomach flips, cutting off the openings to both the esophagus and the intestine, and can cause death in an hour or less.
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